Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-10-05
STRANGE, BUT TRUE.
BY L. E. GRANGER.

My roommate is a lawyer, q. good
fellow, not in the least addicted tC
<'yarning," and this strange story he
told me the other night, 1 honestly be
lieve it to be true in every particular.
give 1T just about as | received it
from him, and here is what he said
1t is now just about ten years since
/ was teaching school, an academy we
called 1t, in small town in the north.
ern part OF New York State, and, as
usual in such places, soon knew all
about every body, even as everybody
Knew ali about me.
There was one delicious mystery in
the section, a hermit who inhabited q
cave or den he had made or found in
the rocks on Bear Mountain, about a
mile from the place. This individual
came from no one knew where, but be
had the marked characteristics of a
sea-faring man; he was also plainly a
native OF some South American coun-
try, and as he gave no name for him.
self some enterprising original christ
ened him Portuguese Joe," and as
such he was known. He was we'll
supplied with money; gold coins OF
foreign mintage and early date he
frequently changed for the little feed
and much drink which he consumed
in his lonely quarters, but he would
talk to no one except to hurl curses
in his Spanish lingo at them; so every
one feared or avoided him, though
the town was somewhat proud of the
distinction given it by the possession
of real live hermit. That he had
been SLAYER, q pirate and a murderer
no one doubted, and no one ever
could catch the glance Of his cold,
cruel black eyes without feeling that
hatred and murder were in his brain
and heart toward all his fellow rea-
lures.
Portuguese Joe" had lived in his
cave for nearly seven years, when one
terribly torrid night the most severe
storm Of thunder, lightning, rain, and
hail that ever was known In that sec
tion came down upon it. | had been
caught away from home; was visiting
q friend living back near the noun
tain and IN sight of the cave of Joe.
/ was held there by the violence of
the storm, and as we sat watching the
play of the brilliant flashes against
the dark background of the mountain
we saw the wild figure or the hermit
emerge from his cave, wave his long
arms wildly, evidently shrieking
curses Or prayers.
As we watched him bolt seemed to
hurl itself direct from Heaven upon
his head and the man sank to the
ground.
So soon as we could my friend and
myself made our way to the spot and
found the lifeless body of the hermit
with no other marks upon it than the
seeming impression of ten fingers upon
the throat. They were burned there,
but seemed perfectly natural, as
though made by two black hands.
I FASTENED to the hotel near by, the
proprietor o. which was also Justice
OF the peace. He sent for the body
and placed it In his coach-house to
remain until next day when official
action could be taken.
Then | returned to my friend
home his wife, q gentle, but most
nervous and excitable lady, had seen
the man receive his death stroke from
the sky, and it had Frustrated her
completely. Their only servant was
q young girl, and [ might be of use,
or thought so.
Now | do not, never did believe in
spiritualism, but this lady fully con-
fded in the doctrine and possessed, or
thought she did, remarkable medium
istic powers. had often begged her
to exercise her trance for my benefit,
but she invariably refused, saying that
I was such an utter skeptlc that 10th
ing would convince me.
When I arrived again and inquired
of her health | found her still greatly
excited, and in half,hysterical condi-
ton, and while sat there, trying by
cheerful conversation to change the
current of her thoughts she suddenly
went into violent commissions. Her
shrieks were terrible; she clutched her
throat with both hands SO fercely
that it was with the greatest difficulty
her husband and myself could loosen
the strangling grasp; she raved horrl-
bly,, swore oaths IN Spanish. OF which
language no one ever knew she had
the least knowledge, and which she de-
MED all intimacy with IN her sane
moments, and she was in fact possess
ed with thespirit of Portuguese joe"
She claimed this afterwards, and the
demoniac hate she exhibited, so uu-
like her usual gentle manner. made 1t
plain that there was something s'pos.
4sessed" her. 1t was q paiful scene. |
was there FOR two hours aiding with
ali my power to control her. Then
she became calm, rational, but sobbed
most desperately.
81 have killed Harry! have killed
Harry" she cried.
The lad was their only child. a.
frank, brave boy OF IL years, a gen.
eral favori5e, and one of nay brightest
scholars. He had not been home